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73 convicted pollution cases in April
A total of 73 convictions were made in the courts last month (April) for breaching anti-pollution legislation enforced by the Environmental Protection Department.
Among them, 32 were convictions made under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, 18 under the Noise Control Ordinance, 10 under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, 11 under the Waste Disposal Ordinance and two under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.
The fines ranged from $1,000 to $142,000. Hong Kong Paper Mills Ltd was fined $142,000 for discharging polluted matter in the Deep Bay Water Control Zone.
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Hotel operator fined for making illegal alterations
The operator of the Century Hotel in Wan Chai was fined $15,000 in Eastern Magistracy today (Tuesday) after pleading guilty to changing the layout of the premises without prior approval from the Home Affairs Department's Licensing Authority.
The court heard that when officers of the Licensing Authority inspected the hotel at 238, Jaffe Road on July 6 last year, they found it had made alterations and additions to four areas without the Authority's prior approval, thereby contravening its licensing conditions and potentially endangering the safety of guests.
The operator was subsequently charged under section 21 of the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance.
A spokesman for the department reminded hotel operators that they should observe the conditions stipulated in their licences and that the Government takes a serious view of cases in which the safety of guests is put at risk.
Enforcement action will continue to be taken to ensure all hotels meet the fire and building safety standards, he said.
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